MAURICE SETTERS 1936-2020

Maurice Setters, the former Republic of Ireland assistant manager, has died aged 83.

Honiton-born Setters was the number two to Jack Charlton between 1986 and 1995. During this time, the pair guided the Republic to the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, as well as the 1988 European Championships.

A midfielder by trade,  Setters began his playing career with Exeter City in 1954. He went on to play for West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United (who he made 194 appearances for), Stoke City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic. 

Whilst at Old Trafford, he helped Manchester United win the FA Cup in 1963, where they beat Leicester City 3-1 in the final at Wembley. 

As a manager, Setters took charge of Doncaster Rovers in the 1970s, before spells in caretaker charge of Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday followed.

But it was as Charlton's right-hand man where he made his mark in the coaching world, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990 with the Republic in their first ever appearance in the finals. The Republic drew their opening game with England 1-1, with Kevin Sheedy cancelling out Gary Lineker's opener for England, held the then European champions Holland to another 1-1 draw before a goalless draw with Egypt sealed their place in their Last 16, and a meeting with Romania. The Romanians were eliminated 6-5 on penalties, after a goalless draw in normal time, which set up a meeting with hosts Italy. However, this would be where the journey would end as Toto Schillaci btoke Irish hearts to score the game's decisive goal. 

In the subsequent 1994 World Cup in the USA, the Irish avenged their exit at the hands of the Italians by beating them 1-0 in the opening group game in New York, with a long range strike from Ray Houghton proving to be the difference. A 2-1 defeat against Mexico followed before a 0-0 draw with Norway in their final group secured their qualification for the Last 16, where they lost 2-0 to Holland. 

This turned out to be their last appearance at a major tournament under Charlton's reign as they failed to qualify for Euro 96, after losing a play-off with Holland that proved to be the duo's final match in charge.

DIFFERENT NAMES - SAME SCENARIO

The names of those involved may have changed and it might be in a different division - but the scenario is very much the same. 

Torquay United are top of their league and five points clear of their nearest challenger under a manager with a track record of winning promotion throughout his career, after their opening nine games. 

At the time of writing in 2020, amidst the uncertainities which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, this is the reality for United under Gary Johnson - a manager with six promotions to his name. The Gulls are top of the National League with 22 points - five clear of second placed Sutton United who have 17 to their name. 

However, this was also the case for the Gulls after their opening nine games into the 1990-91 season in the 'old Division Four' - now League Two - under Dave Smith. Like Johnson, Smith was one of the most experienced managers in the lower leagues, and he was looking to secure a fifth promotion to go alongside those that he had previously won with Mansfield Town, Southend United (twice) and Plymouth Argyle. 

Backed with serious finance following the summer takeover by Mike Bateson, Smith had added former Argyle striker Tommy Tynan and central defender Wes Saunders to the side that had finished the 1989-90 campaign in 15th place - after being 23rd in the table when he was appointed as the successor to the late Cyril Knowles. 

United had won six and drawn three of their opening nine league fixtures - which would form the basis of the then club record 15-match unbeaten league that would stand until January 2019 when Johnson's National League South title winning side completed a run of 16 league fixtures without defeat. 

Another parrallel can be found between United's classes of 1990-91 and 2020-21 by the fact that their ninth game of their respective campaigns saw them win 2-1. In 1990, goals from Tynan and Sean Joyce sealed a 2-1 win over Blackpool - the team the Gulls would memorably defeat on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. While in 2020, Asa Hall and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans were on target to secure a 2-1 away win over FC Halifax Town.

The 1990-91 season would end in promotion for United, albeit through the play-offs and after Smith had been replaced by manager by youth team coach John Impey. As for what the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign will bring for the Gulls it would take a brave person to predict, given the coronavirus pandemic, but it will certainly be looked back on as a memorable one.

The Division Four table as of October 6, 1990 after Torquay United's opening nine matches:

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Torquay United	9	6	3	0	17	9	8	21
2	Burnley	9	4	4	1	16	10	6	16
3	Stockport County	9	4	4	1	14	8	6	16
4	Rochdale	9	4	4	1	14	10	4	16
5	Darlington	9	4	3	2	13	7	6	15
6	Doncaster Rovers	8	5	0	3	13	8	5	15
7	Northampton Town	9	4	3	2	12	11	1	15
8	Cardiff City	9	3	5	1	11	7	4	14
9	Peterborough United	9	3	4	2	9	7	2	13
10	Maidstone United	8	4	0	4	14	8	6	12
11	Gillingham	9	3	3	3	12	12	0	12
12	Blackpool	9	3	2	4	11	10	1	11
13	Hereford United	9	2	4	3	10	10	0	10
14	Scarborough	8	2	4	2	8	8	0	10
15	Hartlepool United	8	3	1	4	7	12	-5	10
16	Carlisle United	9	2	3	4	11	15	-4	9
17	Scunthorpe United	9	2	3	4	9	17	-8	9
18	Walsall	9	1	5	3	10	13	-3	8
19	Chesterfield	9	1	5	3	9	12	-3	8
20	Lincoln City	8	1	5	2	9	12	-3	8
21	York City	7	1	4	2	6	7	-1	7
22	Aldershot	9	1	4	4	12	21	-9	7
23	Wrexham	7	1	3	3	8	12	-4	6
24	Halifax Town	8	0	2	6	0	9	-9	2

 

FIVE TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS BOREHAM WOOD

1. United only need ten men. 

Despite the dismissal of Plymouth Argyle loanee Adam Randell in the 72nd minute for a second yellow card, the Gulls still managed to dig in to claim a point. It isn't the first that United have picked up points after going down to ten men under Gary Johnson's reign. On March 16, 2019 the Gulls beat Dartford 2-0 in National League South after French defender Jean Yves Koue Niate received his marching orders early on. On August 17, 2019, United hung on to claim all three points with a 2-1 away win over Dover Athletic in the wake of Asa Hall's dismissal. Randell also joins a list of players who have been dismissed in recent fixtures between the Gulls and the Wood, which includes United's Ruairi Keating and Kyle Cameron and the Wood's Jamal Fyfield.

2. MacDonald stakes a claim. 

With Lucas Covolan absent through injury, Shaun MacDonald once again donned the goalkeeper's gloves for the Gulls. Had it not been for the wicked deflection that Sorba Thomas' cross took off Ben Wynter's foot then MacDonald would have marked his return to the starting line-up with a clean sheet. MacDonald also made two crucial saves; in the 26th minutes he rushed off his line to snuff out the run of the onrushing Shaq Coulthirst and in second half injury time he produced a timely stop to deny the experienced Matt Rhead. There is plenty of competition for places throughout the United squad - and the goalkeeper's position is no exception. 

3. Lemonheigh-Evans the man of the match - as well as the man of the moment. 

United's former Wales Under-21 midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans rewarded for an industrious display playing initially in the number 10 role between Danny Wright, and then in the centre of midfield alongside skipper Asa Hall following Adam Randell's dismissal. Lemonheigh-Evans's free-kick also provided the assist for Sam Sherring's 16th minute opener for the Gulls, as he continues to be one of United's brighter performers of the current campaign. 

4. The importance of the set pieces. 

Sam Sherring's second goal of the season, when he headed home a free-kick from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, is the latest example of a number of goals for United this season that have occured as the result of a set piece. Sherring and Lemonheigh-Evans also combined for the Bournemouth loanee's first goal for the Gulls - on that occasion Sherring headed home a corner from the Welshman. Sherring's centre back partner Kyle Cameron also headed home two corners from Lemonheigh-Evans in the Gulls' 2-0 victory over Dover Athletic on October 17. This will undoubtably please United assistant manager Aaron Downes, who was always a threat in the opposition's penalty box from set pieces when he played for the Gulls between 2012 and 2015.

5. Thomas shows why he has attracted so much interest. 

It could be successfully argued that Boreham Wood are the toughest team that United have faced at Plainmoor - they are the only side to have to come away with a point so far - and their highly rated wide man Sorba Thomas is the best individual player that they have come up against. Thomas, who was the subject of a bid from League One side Charlton Athletic earlier this season, was a threat throughout for Boreham Wood and it was his cross that took a wicked deflection off the foot of Ben Wynter. A whole host of Football League clubs are believed to be keeping tabs on Thomas and it would not be a major surprise to see him making the move to the EFL at some point in the distant future.

DAVID GRAHAM AND MARTIN GRITTON - TORQUAY UNITED'S G-FORCE

In the wake of Scotland's qualification for Euro 2020, we will now have a closer look at two former Torquay United players from north of the border who remain amongst the most popular Scotsman to have appeared for the Gulls. 

A top forward partnership is worth its weight in gold – so it’s no wonder Torquay United fans recall the David Graham and Martin Gritton double act almost two decades ago.

Both of them hailed from north of the border and performed a key role in helping to transform the Gulls from relegation strugglers to promotion contenders under the managerial reign of Leroy Rosenior.

Although they were both compatriots – their respective journeys to Plainmoor were markedly different.

Edinburgh-born Graham had progressed through the youth ranks of Scottish giants Rangers and made a handful of appearances for the Gers in the 1998-99 season – which included a UEFA Cup tie with Irish side Shelbourne and a substitute appearance in an Old Firm game against Celtic – and was capped eight times by Scotland at Under-21 level. After failing to break into the Rangers’ first team under Dick Advocaat, Graham joined Dunfermline Athletic – but several managerial changes saw him fall out of favour with the Pars and when Colin Lee signed him for United on non-contract terms in March 2001 his career was at a crossroads. Two goals in five games played a key part in helping the Gulls beat relegation – including United’s third in their infamous 3-2 final day decider away to fellow strugglers Barnet.

If Graham took the high road to South Devon, then it could be argued that Gritton took the low road. His route to Plainmoor was not the one that would be considered to be orthodox for most professional footballers. A life-long Celtic fan, Gritton’s family moved from Glasgow to Cornwall when he was five years old and his footballing education came through playing for Porthleven in the Jewson South Western League, for whom he also enjoyed a fine run in the FA Vase in the 1997-98 campaign. He combined this with University football – he graduated with a degree in Sports Science from the University of Portsmouth in 1999 – before joining Plymouth Argyle. Initially, he struck up a promising partnership with Ian Stonebridge, but found himself down the pecking order following the arrival of former Dundee United and Scotland striker Paul Sturrock as successor to Kevin Hodges. Gritton was loaned out to Yeovil Town and Shelbourne in the Republic of Ireland before becoming one of Rosenior’s first signings ahead of the 2002-03 season.

Owing to a suspension carried over from the previous season for Graham, which saw him miss the first three games of the season, there was a delay in the duo starting together on the opening day of the season against Bristol Rovers. Despite this, it proved to be an occasion to remember for Gritton - he headed home a cross from fellow debutant Neil Prince to score the Gulls’ equaliser on the stroke of half-time as United won 2-1, with Alex Russell adding United’s second from the penalty spot in the second half. It proved to be a day of many firsts for the Gulls - it was also Rosenior’s first game in charge following his appointment as successor to Roy McFarland.

The pair started together for the first time on September 7, 2002, in an away game against Oxford United. The Gulls drew 2-2 with Graham finding the target along with Tony Bedeau. Just under a month later, Graham and Gritton were on target in the same match for the first time in a 2-1 away win against Carlisle United at Brunton Park.

Gritton’s goal against the Cumbrians was his first for United since the opening day of the campaign, and he then went on to finish the season with 16 goals in all competitions to his name whilst Graham ended the campaign with 15. Gritton’s efforts also saw him voted as runner-up in the club’s player of the year award – sandwiched between Jason Fowler in third and the overall winner Alex Russell.

If the 2002-03 season belonged to Gritton, then the 2003-04 campaign was very much the property of Graham. He found the back of the net 23 times - in all competitions, lifted the Gulls’ player of the year award and was named in the PFA Division Three team of the season for 2003-04. He also netted United’s crucial second goal in their 2-1 win over Southend United which helped the Gulls seal automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years at the expense of Huddersfield Town.

An injury sustained in pre-season meant that the 2003-04 campaign was something of a stop-start season for Gritton. In his absence, former Arsenal trainee Jo Kuffour linked up well with Graham to good effect. However, out of the four goals that he scored during the course of the campaign his winning goal on February 21, 2004, against a Hull City side managed by former England Under-21 boss Peter Taylor proved to be amongst the most crucial scored by a United player.

Graham’s impressive displays soon attracted the attention of clubs higher up the footballing food chain - Wigan paid United £215,000 for his services in the summer of 2004. Whilst with the Latics, Graham would taste promotion success once again, as Paul Jewell led Wigan to the Premier League for the first time ever in the 2004-05 season.

Gritton, however, would remain at Plainmoor a little longer as he left for Grimsby Town in December 2004 for a fee of £7,500, after finding the back of the net six times for the Gulls in League One. This included a brace in a 2-0 win over Stockport County in September, which gave United their first away win in the third tier since the 1971-72 season (the Gulls had failed to register a win away from Plainmoor in the 1991-92 campaign– their only previous season at that level between those eras).

The pair would return to the Gulls later in their careers on loan; Graham in the 2006-07 season and Gritton in the 2010-11 campaign. Both their respective loan spells saw them fail to find the back of the net, but the magic of their first spells will live long in the memory of those who witnessed them in action. 

 An abridged version of this article appeared in Late Tackle Magazine Issue 68 Sept/Oct 2020

 

TONY WAITERS 1937-2020

Former Plymouth Argyle manager Tony Waiters has passed away at the age of 83. 

Southport-born Waiters, who made his name as a goalkeeper with Blackpool and Burnley and also won five caps for England, managed the Pilgrims between 1972 and 1977. He had also been part of Sir Alf Ramsey's provisional 40-man squad for the 1966 World Cup.

He enjoyed great success during his time in charge at Home Park. During the 1973-74 season, he led Argyle to the semi-finals of the League Cup where they were beaten by Manchester City over two legs. In the following 1974-75 campaign, he guided the Pilgrims to promotion from the 'old' Third Division - now League One - with a side that were spearheaded by the strike partnership of Billy Rafferty and future England international Paul Mariner. 

He departed Home Park in April 1977 as the Pilgrims' fourth longest-serving manager, having been at the helm for 1,653 days and he also had a win percentage of 51.7%. 

Argyle were the only professional side who Waiters managed in England, he had previously served as the manager of the England youth side and won the European Youth Championship in 1973. 

His next port of call on leaving the Pilgrims was in Canada, when he was appointed manager of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the NASL (North American Soccer League) and he steered them to victory in the Soccer Bowl in 1979 by defeating the highly fancied Tampa Bay Rowdies.

This attracted the attentions of the Canadian FA, who appointed him as manager of the national side - a role which would see him enjoy more success. He led Canada to the quarter finals of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and two years later he oversaw their qualification for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where they would lose all three group games. It has so far proved to be their one and only qualification for a World Cup finals.

Waiters would also have a second spell in charge in 1990, which proved to be a brief one. 

In 2001, he was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, and his influence on the game in North America remained strong right up until his passing.

FIVE TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CRAWLEY TOWN

1. Only when they scored their winner were Crawley ever ahead.

Just as when Dennis Taylor won the 1985 World Snooker Championship at Crucible Theatre against Steve Davis he ever held a lead until he sunk the final black in the final frame, Crawley Town didn’t hold a lead against the Gulls until Tom Nichols scored their winner.

United had led 2-0, 4-2 and 5-3 and when Asa Hall scored his second penalty they seemed destined to hold on to hang on to their lead and seal their place in the second round. Sadly it wasn’t to be for the Gulls, as Nichols netted twice in the 108^th and 113^th minutes to complete his hat-trick, and Ashley Nadesan struck the winner in the 118^th minute.  As the former Spurs and England Jimmy Greaves would say ‘it’s a funny old game’.

2. Shades of Walsall from 1995-96.

Remarkably, despite whatever the score line might have suggested, Torquay’s 6-5 FA Cup first round defeat to Crawley Town isn’t the highest scoring FA Cup game that the Gulls have ever been involved in. In the 1995-96 season, the Gulls were beaten 8-4 in the second round of the competition by Walsall. Strange as though it may seem, it was actually 3-3 after 90 minutes and Ian Hathaway nearly won it for United but he contrived to hit both posts with a shot in the 90^th minute, which would have seen the Gulls win the game.

3.       The Crawley ‘curse’ continues.

In the wake of Sunday’s result United have now lost six of their nine meetings with Crawley Town, and only one of their three victories have ever come at Plainmoor. With the Gulls currently leading the National League table could they have a shot at revenge next season?

4.       Three in three for Ben Whitfield.

 One positive to come from United’s display was the performance of Ben Whitfield who scored United’s second goal of the afternoon and posed a threat to the Red Devils’ defence all afternoon.

5. Tom McGill released from hospital. 

An injury to Crawley goalkeeper Tom McGill caused play to be delayed in the second half for 16 minutes, after the Brighton loanee sustained when diving at the feet of Gulls' midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. McGill was stretched off the pitch and taken to Torbay Hospital, where he was later released with concussion. At this point United were two goals to the good - thanks to efforts from Aaron Nemane and Ben Whitfield - but after the restart Crawley enjoyed their best period of the game and pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute before later equalising. If his injury hadn't occurred when it did could the outcome of the game been different?

FA CUP PREVIEW: 2020-21 FIRST ROUND

This weekend sees Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City join Torquay United and Yeovil Town in the FA Cup as the first round proper of the competition gets underway.

However, it will be a journey with a difference this season due to the Covid 19 pandemic and this weekend's round of ties will be taking place without fans because of the outbreak.

The Pilgrims and the Glovers head east to face Charlton Athletic and Bromley respectively, while the Grecians host AFC Fylde at St James Park. Meanwhile the Gulls host Crawley Town on Sunday, which is being shown across the BBC's online platforms. 

Also, with no matchday revenue available to clubs  - other than that made through the EFL's Ifollow streaming service, or in-house streaming services in the case of non-league sides - the £16,972 prize money that the first round winners will receive, not to mention the £25,000 for emerging victorious in the second round, becomes more important to clubs coffers.

We will now take a closer look at the prospects of each side. 

Charlton Athletic vs Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe will have all five of his loan players available when the Pilgrims travel to the Valley to face Charlton Athletic for a tie that sees third face eighth in League One. 

Timmy Abraham, Ryan Hardie, Tyrese Fornah, Jerome Opoku and Kell Watts all have permission from their parent clubs to play, giving Lowe a squad of 23 players to choose from. 

For what was arguably the toughest draw that Argyle could have faced they head into the tie on good form, following their 4-2 midweek win over Swindon Town. The Addicks will also head into the tie in good form after winning their last six League One encounters. However, Lowe is no stranger to a cup upset as he was part of the Shrewsbury Town side that knocked Everton out at the third round stage in the 2002-03 season, so he will no doubt be reminding his side that on the day anything can happen. 

Exeter City vs AFC Fylde

In recent times Exeter City have enjoyed several memorable FA Cup encounters, which has seen them take the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to replays in 2004-05 and 2015-16 respectively. 

Nevertheless, the Grecians will be wary of the threat posed by National League North side AFC Fylde, who are unbeaten in their league campaign, having won four and drawn once in the National League North to date. The Coasters are also managed by Jim Bentley, who crossed paths with the Grecians on many occasions during his eight years in charge of Morecambe. 

City are currently on a ten-match unbeaten run themselves, which has seen them rise to fourth in League Two, and they will need to be at their best if they are to progress to the second round of the competition. 

Bromley vs Yeovil Town

After seeing off Dover Athletic on penalties in the fourth qualifying round, Yeovil Town face another all-National League tie as they head to Kent to face Bromley. 

The two sides are separated by 11 places in the National League table, but the Glovers can take some comfort from the fact that last side they beat the Ravens 3-1 at Huish Park and later drew 1-1 at Hayes Lane. 

Yeovil Town are a name that is synonymous with the FA Cup since their infamous win over Sunderland in 1949 and many of the qualities that enabled them to pull off those shocks could be just what they need to see off the challenge posed by Bromley. 

There will be one face in the Ravens side who will certainly be recognisable to Glovers' fans in the form of Byron Webster, who was part of the Yeovil side who won promotion to the Championship under Gary Johnson in the 2012-13 season.  

Torquay United vs Crawley Town

It is nearly a decade ago that Torquay United lost out to Crawley Town, who were then still non-league side, in the fourth round of the 2010-11 season. 

However, the boot is now on the other foot as the Gulls head into the tie as the leaders of the National League while Crawley Town are currently eighth in League Two. The two sides are seperated by 17 league placings in the footballing pyramid, but United, now managed by Gary Johnson, will see the tie as a chance to assess the Gulls' potential to hold their own at a higher level. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of the game could be how well United's centre back pairing of Kyle Cameron and Sam Sherring, currently on loan from AFC Bournemouth, can subdue Crawley's forward line of Max Watters and former Exeter City striker Tom Nichols.